CAM DA' s Contest Results Unsatisfactory
New contest will attempt to overcome location,
operator, public indifference.
76
scheduled for Los Angeles
and Oakland in November
LOS ANGELES.-Originally planned as a "saviour for the pin game industry," the
largest promotion of skill games ever attempted in this country closed its four-week efforts
a failure to the tune of some $38,000 . First reported by the COIN MACHINE REVIEW,
which outlined the possibilities, the efforts of the California Amusement Machine Oper-
ators' Association to rescusitate dwindling cashboxes failed to do more for operators, some
game men who did a very unthorough job
of whom invested as much as $800, than
to increase the feeling of despondency, and
of selling the idea to the locations. Such
matters as givin'g away tickets for entrance
return about $1 for each $8.
in the contest without payment of the full
Report of one of the trade journals had
twenty-five cents for five plays, need not
play "doubled and tripled in most locations,
have been allowed. Payouts, as promised,
according to a preliminary survey." Actual
should have been barred. And, as the loca-
fact is that at no time during the contest
tion owners lost interest, the operators
in any save a few scattered spots was play
dropped deeper and deeper into despond-
better than ii had been in weeks preceding
the contest's opening, weeks which set
ency.
While the original purpose of the contest
record lows as a result of conditions beyond
control of the organization's administrative
was to offset an undesirable condition that
body.
I was hurting p)ay and receipts alike, and
Apparent reasons for the failure of the
while the methods used seem, even yet, to
venture are two. Close analysis indicates
have untouched possibilities, it is made
that advertising was inadequate. Less
clear once again that advertising of the
careful study was required to see that loca-
games, if it is to be done with the thor-
tions failed to cooperate.
oughness needed, and with fullest effect,
As regards the first point, let it be said
must come not from the merchandisers of
that CAMOA made a fine start, but instead
play, but from the makers of equipment.
of increasing advertising when signs of dis-
Total darkness of the picture is lessened
interest appeared, advertising dwindled
by the fact that, as Charles Cradick,
and disappeared. A moral may be drawn
CAMOA's executive head, declared, "While
from a football game: when the opposing
you may not have gotten a dollars-and-
line refuses to give an inch, there are only
cents return for your investment just at this
two things that wiil move the team closer
time, your $38,000 has bought a new toler-
to the goal line. One is a different method
ance that should outlast the memory of
• of attack- perhaps a pass-and the other
this contest. Except for one small suburban
is a harder plunge. CAMOA did neither.
paper, not one mention derogatory to pin
Instead they let the opponents take the ball
games appeared in any paper in the county
and, sadly, there was no defense for their
since the contest opened. And I believe
own goal-line.
you have convinced the public that pin
What should have been done, and
games are legitimate, and that their oper-
wasn't, was an increase in advertising, or
ators are decent business men. That should
a different method of advertising. Early
tell on future revenue."
announcement to the effect that radio would
Still hopeful-and the COIN MACHINE
be used, apparently did not materialize,
REVIEW hopes with members of CAMOA-
and even the advertising of the games
a new contest is being started . .. Perhaps.
w ithin the location was decidedly poor.
this is a new drive toward the goal-line
That brings up the second point. Claims
that will actually put them across . In any
for failure due to lack of cooperation fall
event, following the same lines, the new
not so much upon the location owners, to
contest will give $2500 to contestants be-
whom the plan was strange, but upon the
fore Christmas-time.
•
PHONOGRAPH HEADQUARTERS
Where the W est's Pro minent Mttsic Operators BUY, SELL and EXCHANGE
WURLITZER
Phonographs and Slcee-Balls
Stock Carried for Immediate Deliveries
Only
$49.50
Wurlitzer Banquets
Down
Balance on Easy Terms
WANTED
LOS ANGELES.- Two big Wurlitzer ban-
quets were announced for November by
W. E. Simmons, branch manager, upon re-
ceipt of word from Homer Capehart, vice-
president of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., that
he would be able to be in attendance. Mr.
Capehart, accompanied by his wife and
father, and Robert Bolles, advertising man-
ager, will spend two weeks on the coast,
arriving on the 19th.
The first big banque t is scheduled to be
held in Los Angeles, Saturday evening,
November 20th and the second will be held
at the Hotel Leamington in Oakland on
Saturday, Novembe r 27th. The meeting
place for the Los Angeles party had not
been announced at presstime.
Both parties will be put on in the typical
Capehart style with fine food, topnotch
dance music and a gala floor show.
•
Western Vending Machine
Operators' Association
of Southern California
President- LARRY HAGLER, 3808 Flower Drive,
Los Angeles, Richmond 8915 ; Secretary-PHIL
EISENDRATH, 1555 Merrima n Drive, Glendale,
Douglas 1515.
Marked by the best attendance in ten
years, the meeting of October 25 had over
70 members present. Discussion of the li-
cense situation, dinner, entertainment and
door prizes all proved of sufficient interest
to permit e stqblishment of this record. Sev-
eral fine speeches by members of the or-
ganization pointed the need for a strong
Association to represent merchandise ma-
chine operators, and sought full -cooperation
from fellow-members.
It was a pleasure to have Operator Rich-
ardson of San Francisco present. With
3000 machines scattered up and down the
Coast, he was in a p osition to tell his lis-
teners something about the tax situation in
the various cities where he operates.
Most' important discussion of the evening
concerned a proposal to take the Los An-
geles license situation in hand and force
through a suitable license. It was agreed
that a $7.50 yearly blanket license would
be satisfactory, and a committee was
named to propose such a license to the city
council.
Dues for the next six months were set
at $4.50, and will include dinner, door
prizes and entertainment. It was unani-
mously agreed that all initiation fees would
be waived, and unpaid dues would be
passed. The next meeting will be held
November 22, probably at the Casa de
Rosas. Vending machine operators are
urged to see their jobbers for this informa-
tion, and to secure their ticke ts .
e
For Cash or Trade-in, On or Off Location
PHONOGRAPHS
.. . ALL MAKES
Stock on Hand for Imm ediate De livery
I.. A. GAMES COMPANY
(WM. NATHANSON )
2 833 W. Pico St.
PArkway 9191
Los Angeles , Calif.
Modern Proposal
"Do you know, dear, your children will
probably have blue eyes?" •
"Why, John, my eyes aren' t blue."
"No, but mine are. "
Then there's the advice of the operator
who suggests: Don't be content to stand
under the mistletoe-sit down and make an
. evening of it.
"